Lukas Novy, a Czech "Pastafarian," has legally won the right to wear a spaghetti strainer in his official government ID card photo, citing religious reasons, as a devout member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

What is Pastafarianism, you ask? According to their website, the satirical sect was formed by a bunch of peaceful pirate explorers with a penchant for beer, ruled by an invisible noodly monster who "boiled for your sins."

Surprisingly, it"s not the first time a government has recognized Pastafarians" sieve-donning habits as being as legitimate as any other religious practice.

Lukas Novy, a Czech "Pastafarian," has legally won the right to wear a spaghetti strainer in his official government ID card photo, citing religious reasons, as a devout member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

What is Pastafarianism, you ask? According to their website, the satirical sect was formed by a bunch of peaceful pirate explorers with a penchant for beer, ruled by an invisible noodly monster who "boiled for your sins."

Surprisingly, it"s not the first time a government has recognized Pastafarians" sieve-donning habits as being as legitimate as any other religious practice.

At 8/3/2013 9:18:53 PM, YYW wrote:It's reassuring to know that no matter how stupid one's "religion" is, the right to practice it is still protected under the law.

In some places at least.

Yeah, I guess. I would have no problem having state religions though, so long as they were moderated and tolerant of other people's right to practice legitimate religions (Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, etc.) not bullsh!t religions (pastafariansim, mormonism, etc.).

At 8/3/2013 9:18:53 PM, YYW wrote:It's reassuring to know that no matter how stupid one's "religion" is, the right to practice it is still protected under the law.

In some places at least.

Yeah, I guess. I would have no problem having state religions though, so long as they were moderated and tolerant of other people's right to practice legitimate religions (Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, etc.) not bullsh!t religions (pastafariansim, mormonism, etc.).

Whoa there, cowboy? How can you define what is and is not a legitimate religion.

Think'st thou heaven is such a glorious thing?
I tell thee, 'tis not half so fair as thou
Or any man that breathes on earth.
- Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus

At 8/3/2013 9:18:53 PM, YYW wrote:It's reassuring to know that no matter how stupid one's "religion" is, the right to practice it is still protected under the law.

In some places at least.

Yeah, I guess. I would have no problem having state religions though, so long as they were moderated and tolerant of other people's right to practice legitimate religions (Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, etc.) not bullsh!t religions (pastafariansim, mormonism, etc.).

Whoa there, cowboy? How can you define what is and is not a legitimate religion.

The same way Potter Stewart defines obscenity... lol (that was only a joke, btw. both this, and the above -btw. even though I do seriously do not see mormonism as a legitimate religion in any way, I'd still not oppose their practicing it if they kept to themselves).

At 8/3/2013 9:18:53 PM, YYW wrote:It's reassuring to know that no matter how stupid one's "religion" is, the right to practice it is still protected under the law.

In some places at least.

Yeah, I guess. I would have no problem having state religions though, so long as they were moderated and tolerant of other people's right to practice legitimate religions (Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, etc.) not bullsh!t religions (pastafariansim, mormonism, etc.).

Whoa there, cowboy? How can you define what is and is not a legitimate religion.

The same way Potter Stewart defines obscenity... lol (that was only a joke, btw. both this, and the above -btw. even though I do seriously do not see mormonism as a legitimate religion in any way, I'd still not oppose their practicing it if they kept to themselves).